FAFSA Application for 2026-2027 opened on October 1st, 2025!
Please create an FSA account to begin your FAFSA application
FSA IDs can take up to three days to process so begin early!
About FAFSA
FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Once you complete the FAFSA, the US Department of Education uses the information collected (you and your family’s finances, previous tax returns, family size, etc.) to determine how much federal aid you would qualify for. Colleges also use this information to award financial aid. Because the FAFSA is free, you should not pay anyone to complete it for you!
FAFSA Best Practices
When completing the FAFSA, apply as soon as possible after the application opens.
Check your school’s priority deadline to be sure that you have your FAFSA completed and submitted by then.
Organize all of the materials that you will need for the FAFSA before beginning; this will make the process a lot smoother for you
Your Social Security number (it’s important that you enter it correctly on the FAFSA form!)
Your parents’ Social Security numbers if you are a dependent student
Your driver’s license number if you have one
Your Alien Registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen
Federal tax information, tax documents, or tax returns, including IRS W-2 information, for you (and your spouse, if you are married), and for your parents if you are a dependent student
IRS Form 1040
Foreign tax return or IRS Form 1040-NR
Tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or Palau
Records of your untaxed income, such as child support received, interest income, and veterans non-education benefits, for you, and for your parents if you are a dependent student
Information on cash; savings and checking account balances; investments, including stocks and bonds and real estate (but not including the home in which you live); and business and farm assets for you and for your parents if you are a dependent student
**This list is also available at studentaid.gov**
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Additional Resource Articles for your reference